A child holds a pen during a vigil outside the Consulate General of France to pay tribute to the victims of an attack on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris
IN PHOTO: A child holds a pen during a vigil outside the Consulate General of France to pay tribute to the victims of an attack on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, in San Francisco, California January 7, 2015. The youngest of three French nationals being sought by police for a suspected Islamist militant attack that killed 12 people at a satirical magazine on Wednesday turned himself in to the police, an official at the Paris prosecutor's office said. The hooded attackers stormed the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, a weekly known for lampooning Islam and other religions, in the most deadly militant attack on French soil in decades. Reuters/Stephen Lam

The Jewish community in New Zealand has expressed sympathy to the victims of the Paris attack, which included Charlie Hebdo weekly's staff and the hostages killed in the super market siege. The council described it as the murderous results of unchecked anti-Semitism.

New Zealand's Jewish Council president Stephen Goodman said the impact of the Paris attacks have been felt within local Jewish community as well. Goodman said, "these attacks are targeted against the Jewish people and we also feel threatened. We express our profound sympathy to the people who have been attacked." He said people are uncomfortable and very concerned, despite New Zealand being far away from the place of attack, reported Radio Nz.

A Muslim leader in New Zealand also condemned the Paris killings and said terror acts should not be allowed to define religions. Sultan Eusoff, a Muslim member of the Wellington Council for Christians and Jews, said the attack in Paris was against the teachings of the Koran. "Some Muslims are taking passages in the Koran in the wrong context and using them to legitimise violent actions," the Muslim leader said anda added the killings will never find any justification in the Koran.

Auckland Homage

Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered in Auckland to mourn the deaths of Paris terror attacks. They poured out their support for free speech. Many vigils have already taken place in New Zealand since the shooting took place. But this latest one had 400 people holding aloft pens and pencils at Aotea Square, singing the French national anthem. Elise Fournier, one of the organisers said, she wanted French people in New Zealand to come together to share the shock and sorrow and show solidarity and support for free speech. About 200 people gathered at the Wellington vigil to show their support and sympathy for the families who lost their loved ones. Pauline Calloch, who attended the Wellington vigil, said she grew up with the magazine, and the cartoons were a part of her Paris life.

Mayor's Solidarity

Wellington's mayor also expressed the capital city's solidarity with Paris victims, at the vigil. Celia Wade-Brown said both cities have multicultural populations and are firm in their beliefs. The Federation of Islamic Associations in New Zealand also expressed indignation at the Paris killings. But, Anwar Ghani, its president also regretted that freedom of speech at time becoming hate-speech. He urged journalists and public figures to show restraint and not exacerbate tensions, according to a report by Radio Nz.

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